Gold Coast local Cleo Massey is well-known for her role as Kim in the TV series H2O: Just Add Water. Mischievous, cunning and cheeky, Kim is little more than a pain in the butt — but Massey says she hardly reflects the character she plays, describing herself as friendly, fun and outgoing, with “a cheeky sense of humour.”
“It’s a lot of fun playing Kim, because I get to be someone totally different to myself. Kim is very cheeky and a bit of a brat, and I can get away with it. It’s fun to take on such a strong-minded character.”
Since finishing her role in H2O: Just Add Water, Massey has pursued other opportunities in the acting industry, expanding her talents to short and feature film both in Australia and overseas.
In 2010, Massey played the young Dee O’Keefe — the character played by Kathryn Beck — in a flashback scene in Neil McGregor’s feature film The Little Things. “It just secured worldwide distribution and won Best Drama at the Toronto Film Festival,” she says.
More recently, Massey attended the Gold Coast Film Festival for her latest short film, I’m Home. “It was really fun — we got to do the whole red carpet thing, mingle with people, and it was great to see all the old H2O crew.”
“I’m Home is a dark comedy where I play the main character, Meg, who has died and comes back from hell to warn her parents.” A suitably dramatic role — and one made all the more interesting by the fact that her own mother plays her mum in the film.
“She plays my mum in I’m Home and we’ve worked together before in two other short films — Humility Rising and Futility. I was only eleven when I got my first role. I have my mum to thank for her help and her talents — she’s actually been a singer her entire life. We’re a very musical family; my dad is a drummer.”
Music runs deep for Massey, and her acting pursuits do nothing to diminish it. “My idol is Beyoncé — she’s a triple threat, and I’d like to consider myself a triple threat too.” She is currently studying a Diploma of Music at TAFE, channelling her passion for singing and guitar.
Cleo Massey is in no way ready to slow down. She plans to continue with her busy agenda — acting, singing and dancing — happy to pursue every creative aspect of her life.
“I don’t mind where I’ll be in ten years, just as long as I’m doing what I’m doing now.”
